Phuket Airport Guide: Arrivals, Transfers and Departures

The airport and terminals

Phuket International Airport (HKT) is at the northern tip of the island, around 30 to 40 km from Phuket Town and the main beaches, and much closer to Mai Khao, Nai Yang and Bang Tao. It has separate international and domestic terminals, with pickup points and counters laid out differently in each.

The airport operator's information line is reported as 1722, and the Tourist Police can be reached on 1155. A medical clinic is listed on the first level of the international terminal.

Arriving: immigration, SIM and money

• Immigration queues vary widely, with guides quoting anything from half an hour to well over an hour at peak times. Have your passport, arrival card details and onward travel documents ready.
• SIM card counters, currency exchange and ATMs are in the arrivals hall. Our SIM guide compares plans and shows what a resident needs.
• Free airport Wi-Fi is limited in time, so a working SIM or eSIM before you leave the terminal makes ride apps easier.

For a longer stay, the first-week checklist covers what to do once you are in town.

Getting to your area

• Official metered taxis: queue at the counters or stand outside arrivals. Guides report the meter plus an airport surcharge of about 100 baht, with typical fares of about 700 to 1,000 baht to the main beaches and Phuket Town, and more for Kata and Karon. Most drivers prefer cash.
• Pre-booked private cars and limousines: fixed prices, often quoted at about 800 to 1,400 baht depending on the area and the vehicle.
• Grab and Bolt: usable from a designated pickup point, not the main arrivals door. Availability and the pickup rules differ by terminal and drop after late evening, so check the app on arrival.
• Phuket Smart Bus: a public airport bus along the west coast, with a flat fare quoted at about 100 baht and a fixed timetable that ends well before the last flights.
• Shared minibuses and the airport bus to Phuket Town: cheaper, with limited hours.

Bang Tao and Nai Yang are the closest areas to the airport and Rawai is the farthest. See the getting around guide for taxis and apps once you are settled.

Late arrivals and early departures

Flights can land late at night, when the taxi queue thins and the Smart Bus and shared minibuses have stopped. Pre-book a transfer or confirm your hotel's pickup if you land after about 22:00 or 23:00.

For departures, allow extra time for traffic, because the drive from the south or from Patong can be long, and for check-in, security and immigration. Public holidays and festivals add traffic, and the 2027 holidays guide lists them.

Useful tips

• Avoid touts who approach you inside the terminal offering rides. Use the official counters or a booked service.
• Agree the price or insist on the meter before you get in, and see the scams guide for common overcharging tricks.
• Keep valuables in your hand luggage and take photos of your bags in case of loss.
• If you are bringing medicine, read the guide to pharmacies and bringing medicine before you pack.
• Large items such as scooters, pets and household goods have their own rules. See the pets guide and the shipping guide.